The runway from small business idea to takeoff can sometimes be quite long. In the case of Mountain West Drone Services, based in Craig, there was nowhere to go but straight up. Owner and certified drone pilot Grant Mader realized there was a huge opportunity in Northwest Colorado to utilize modern drone technology in serving a variety of local industries. 

He turned to Northwest SBDC in 2023 to assist with finalizing the business plan and projections he would enter into that year’s Craig Business Plan Competition, as well as local market analysis and preparation for his live pitch in the final round. Mader ultimately placed first and used the awarded funds to help fuel the startup phase of his business. He continued Northwest SBDC advising for growing his customer base over the winter of 23/24.

Mader says, “My advisor was fantastic. He was always there to answer questions and I was able to bounce ideas off him and got great feedback. It really helps when you have a mentor to help you through the process of starting your business. Anyone who’s thinking about starting a business should inquire about this great resource.”

Mountain West Drone Services offers aerial surveying, inspections, photography and videography, emergency response services, and processing of all types of drone-collected data. Clients hail from the mining and energy, real estate, construction, and public service sectors, among others.

However, Mader’s knowledge and experience has led to the company’s primary focus on agricultural services in the rural Northwest. The drones can map range- and croplands and are further equipped with specialized sensors providing detailed information on crop health and growth patterns, helping farmers optimize their operations and increase yields. 

The company’s growth strategy includes increasing capacity to offer crop seeding and spraying, and Mader confirms Mountain West Drone Services will reconnect with Northwest SBDC in the coming year to assist with the planning and preparation of those efforts.

When Erwin Germain immigrated to Summit County from France, one of the culture shocks he observed was the high traffic on I-70. After two winter seasons he was determined to pursue an environmentally- and socially-conscious solution: carpooling.

In 2017 Erwin engaged Northwest Small Business Development Center to assist with strategic planning for an app platform connecting drivers and passengers: TreadShare. Over the next few years, he received support regarding entity formation, finding a co-founder, pitching, regulations, licensing, pricing, service agreements, creating the app, marketing, and more.

The innovative app aims to promote sustainability and fight climate change by allowing noncommercial drivers to share trips they were already planning on taking. The passengers simply share the cost of the ride, with a portion continuing to fund the app. Drivers reduce their trip costs, passengers receive needed transportation at an average of 60-70% less than an Uber or taxi, roads are less congested, and – from vehicle exhaust to energy consumption – the negative environmental effects of cars on the road are lessened. 

While TreadShare launched in 2019, the ride wasn’t over. In the midst of building the user base, receiving grants, and seeking further investment, the app and others like it elsewhere in the state were shut down as their efforts seemed to be ahead of laws on the books. A Summit County elected representative became an advocate for changes in the law specifically addressing the concept of carpooling. A new bipartisan effort passed in April 2021, and TreadShare relaunched later that year. Continuing its prior work, the company drove growth by developing business-to-business partnerships expanding the original vision to encompass workforce transportation support.

In 2024, Erwin worked with the SBDC for further assistance with applications to venture capital groups and a few business accelerators, and to refocus on funding. TreadShare’s business plan and pitch deck also needed updating, in addition to devising a marketing push. He’s hoping this year’s efforts will result in an almost $1M investment.

He says, “The SBDC was definitely helpful and I’m very happy with my experience now and when I first started. They identified my needs correctly and I was able to have advisors who understood my goals. Every time I speak with someone who is interested in starting their own business, I always recommend the SBDC.”

Gracie’s Coffee is a prime example of how Small Business Development Center services help entrepreneurs over the life of a business: from startup to exit. 

In 2022, at only 19 years old, Gracie Rounds reached out to the Northwest SBDC for assistance with legally establishing a 72 square foot walk-up and drive-through coffee hut on a busy corner in the rural town of Gypsum. 

After seven months of consulting and preparation, Gracie’s Coffee opened for business. Due to local demand it was soon time to scale and the SBDC offered further support in the growth stage with hiring, funding, and tax planning. Over the course of 2023 the coffee hut created eight jobs and received major funding through the Colorado Enterprise Fund.

With the initial success, Gracie developed an innovative canned cold brew product that was picked up by local retailers and continues to gain traction with retailers statewide. She further expanded through partnerships with local schools, the Chamber of Commerce, law enforcement, and TedX Youth. In 2023, Gracie’s Coffee served more than 21,000 cups of coffee. Now in 2024, Gracie’s Coffee received recognition as Emerging Business of the Year in the Annual Success Awards presented by Vail Valley Partnership. Gracie has also written a guide about her entrepreneurial journey for other aspiring business owners.

She says, “Owning this business as a young person has given me so much confidence, knowledge, and experience unlike anything I’ve ever done in my life.”

As a young person, Gracie already shows signs of a serial entrepreneur. She is now in the process of selling the successful business in order to pursue the next dream. Here again, the Northwest SBDC is helping with exit planning and business sales expertise.